27th Annual 3M Half Marathon Will Open Registration for 2021

Planning is underway for the 27th annual 3M Half Marathon

Registration for the 2021 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour is open. Every year, thousands of participants take on one of the fastest 13.1-mile courses in the country in search of their half marathon PR. Participants receive a custom Under Armour shirt and the world-famous swag bag filled with 3M products. Pricing begins at $89 for those who take advantage of Early Pricing. Those who register by Monday, May 11th, will receive a free personalized nameplate with their name and finishing time so they can personalize their 2021 spinning finisher medal. The 27th annual 3M Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, January 17, 2021, in Austin, Texas.

“I’m excited to run the 2021 3M Half Marathon and can’t wait to cross the finish line of this well-known half marathon,” said Austinite Collin Findlay, who will run his first 3M Half Marathon on January 17th. “I’ve run parts of the course and love how fast it is! Can I start training yet?!”

Register for the 2021 3M Half Marathon

Run fast, then celebrate with friends and family

Participants will earn their commemorative spinner finish medal after crossing the finish line. They can then celebrate with their friends and family at the finish line festival complete with live music, beer garden, and local food trucks. The standalone half marathon will once again feature Austin pacers and professional race-day photography from FinisherFix.

3M Half Marathon, also known as Downhill to Downtown, provides a fully-supported course. The 13.1-mile course features eight aid stations featuring Nuun, a GU Energy Labs Nutrition Station, and thousands of cheering spectators with hilarious signs. Live music acts are placed strategically throughout the course. Both participants and spectators enjoy their experience with The Live Music Capital of the World.

Good times and a good time

The 2020 3M Half Marathon saw nearly 7000 participants travel from 47 states and 22 countries. It showcased a competitive elite field, hundreds of PRs, and continued community support. David Fuentes (1:06:31) and Jessica Harper (1:13:41) were the male and female champions. In conjunction with 3Mgives, $68,000 was donated to the event beneficiary, Austin Youth River Watch.

The 3M Half Marathon boasts one of the fastest 13.1-mile courses in the country and will celebrate its 27th year running in 2021. Runners will enjoy a point-to-point course with mostly downhill running that showcases some of Austin’s finest locations. The course starts in north Austin and finishes near the Texas State Capitol. Runners will appreciate a 300’ net elevation drop. Participants can register on the website.

Nominate Mom to Win a Free SPIbelt in our Mother’s Day Giveaway

10 lucky moms will get a FREE SPIbelt during our Mother’s Day giveaway

Moms give so much, it’s time to give back to them! They act as role models, care for us, and make sure we have what we need. All while they train to achieve their next goal at the next finish line. Nominate whomever you call mom and tell us why they’re awesome and deserve a new, FREE SPIbelt. We’ll randomly select 10 lucky moms the day before Mother’s Day (May 9th). Their new gear should ship the following week. Who knows, we just might stuff a couple running-related goodies in the SPIbelt for this Mother’s Day giveaway! You can tell your mom about this if you want, but we’ll keep your nomination a secret so she’ll be surprised. What y’all should discuss – training for and completing the 2021 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour together! Pro tip: yes adults can help younger kids submit their nomination!

Image of a mom posing with her son and husband at the 2019 3M Half Marathon finish line. Nominate your mom in this blog post for the Mother's Day giveaway!Let us know how she stands out from the rest! Perhaps they live near you and help watch their grandkids. Maybe they live across the country and provide that calming voice on the other end of the phone. They could be keeping you in line at this very moment all while reading this blog post! Whomever you call mom, they mean something to you. But running also means something to them. When you submit your nomination, tell us what makes your mom special. Nominations will remain open through the end of Friday, May 8th.

Once you’ve submitted your nomination for the Mother’s Day giveaway, contact mom and tell her what you just told us. Remember: keep the giveaway a secret if you want her FREE SPIbelt to be a surprise. Best of luck to all the moms! Massive thanks to our friends at SPIbelt, the Official Race Belt of the 3M Half Marathon. Follow them on Instagram!

Your Fellow Runners Recommend You Binge these Shows

Check out the shows your fellow runners say you have to watch

We needed some new show recommendations. So we turned to the experts. A few weeks ago we asked our Facebook friends what show they most recently binge-watched. We had already watched some of the recommended shows (hello Tiger King!), but some we hadn’t. Of course, we added them to our Watch List! If you’re plowing through shows when you’re on the treadmill or indoor bike, refill your queue with these show recommendations from your fellow runners. We even categorized them for you based on the responses. Pro tip: watching shows is also a great distraction when stretching and foam rolling!

Most recommended show

Screenshot of 3M Half Marathon Facebook post asking for binge-worthy shows from your fellow runners.Ozark – Netflix released Season 3 in late March. Fans of the first two seasons quickly gobbled up the next installment (us included). Ozark follows the Byrdes, a family in deep with a cartel. The twists and turns of their life quickly “normalize” what they’re doing. Season 3 sees the family try to legitimize what they’re doing, but they quickly find it’s not that easy to break up with a cartel. Recommended by: Pat Serafine, Melissa Ruano, Charles Woods.

Show that never gets old

The Office – Need a quick laugh? Turn on an episode of The Office. Want to respond on social media using something funny? Search for a GIF of The Office. The dynamics and shenanigans of this show are what make it hilarious. Need a challenge? Start from Episode 1! Who knows, you just might start a beet farm by the final episode. Recommended by: Elo Mascorro.

Scariest recommended show

The Outsider – You know a TV show will be scary when the story is taken from a Stephen King novel. Open your mind and try to follow the investigation of a supernatural being who makes duplicates of others and commits heinous acts. Recommended by: Carol Schumm, Brenda Miller Atchley.

Yeah, Tiger King

Tiger King – It’s a near certainty that those who have watched Tiger King far outweigh those who haven’t watched. The slow-motion trainwreck follows some unbelievable, real-life characters who breed big cats and exploit those willing to pay money to see them. Recommended by: Andrea Albrecht, Jared Chism, Nina Johnson Janise,

Funniest show (that we’ve seen)

Schitt’s Creek – This show is full of six seasons of hilarity. The Roses, a wealthy family, buy a small town called Schitt’s Creek as a joke. Now they’re completely broke and find themselves having to live in the town. The show has some touching moments, but get ready to laugh so much you can consider watching this show a core workout. Recommended by: Travis Kasper.

Shows we added to our queue

Looking for more shows to add to your Watch List? Make sure you visit this Facebook post and check out what your fellow runners recommended.

Thanks for all the submissions! These show recommendations from your fellow runners should keep you busy for a while. Now you just have to choose what show you watch first! Have you watched something new that we need to add to our Watch List? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

What High Five Events Staff Would Listen to Forever

If they had to choose, here’s what the staff at High Five Events would listen to forever

Imagine you can listen to one thing through your speakers/headphones from now on. What would you choose? It could be podcasts, audiobooks, music, or whatever else the kids are listening to these days. The staff at High Five Events break down what they would listen to forever. Music seems to be the main choice, but there are some good podcasts listed as well as an audiobook series. They just might come in handy if you’re training for 3M Half Marathon!

William

Image of Alabama Shakes' album Sound & Color on clear vinyl. This is one of three albums William Dyson would listen to forever.Give me these three albums on vinyl on rotation!

Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon
ZZ Top – Tres Hombres
Alabama Shakes – Sound & Color

Laura

I’d listen to the following podcasts:

Bobby Bones Show
4 Things With Amy Brown
Work, Play, Love

Emily

The following music makes my top three.

Danny Malone – We the Tigress, They the Wildebeast
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova – Once
Les Miserables

Stacy

This is pretty much an impossible question for me since I love so many albums. Because of that I will select the album I could listen to forever from the last full year of music creation (2019).

The National – I am Easy to Find

Scott

I’m jamming to the following three albums and sneaking in these three podcasts…

Albums
311 – The Blue Album
Kings of Leon – Only by the Night
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium
Podcasts
Joe Rogan Experience
The Pat McAfee Show
2 Bears, 1 Cave

John

Depends on what mood I’m in. I start off with 1 or 2 and let Spotify recommendations take over.

Thievery Corporation
Jazz – Miles Davis, earlier stuff, before the 80s

Joey

When I’m coding I like to listen to bubble gum pop because it helps me get into a flow and doesn’t require much thought. My next two are kind of cheats because I want a variety of artists so I picked out soundtracks.

Ting Tings – We Started Nothing
Pretty in Pink soundtrack (chosen because there was no official soundtrack released for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off)
Lost Body soundtrack

Dan

These three albums are all I’d listen to.

Tom Petty – Wildflowers
U2 – Josua Tree
Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter

Jack

Just give me these two albums and I’m set.

Metallica – The Black Album
Michael Jackson – Thriller

Megan

As you can see these are very random lol. 1 and 2 are rather chill, but when I need to feel extra I must bring out the Houston Diva!

All The Band Camino Songs
Ben Rector
This is Beyonce Spotify Station

Tina

I’m pretty sure these two items would have me covered forever!

My personal “All the Jams” playlist on Spotify
Harry Potter audiobooks read by Stephen Fry

Caroline

Click play on these three albums and I’m good to go!

Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
Queen – Greatest Hits
Sublime – Sublime

If you had to choose one thing to listen to from now on what would you choose? And what would make your top three? Let us know what you would listen to forever on Facebook or Twitter.

March Running Playlist Additions – 10 Must-Add Songs

Refresh your tunes with these March running playlist additions

We’ve got more tunes! Often times one song (or several!) can power you through a tough time during an intense workout or a long run. That’s why we’ve created this #WeLiketheSoundofThat playlist! We share every song on Twitter. Follow us so you know what’s next. We’ve taken 10 recent songs and put them in this convenient blog. Listen to the playlist (100+ songs and counting) and refresh your music with these March running playlist additions. Remember, when training keep the volume low enough or don’t use headphones so you can listen to your surroundings.

Born This Way – Lady Gaga

Prepare to skip the warm-up if your running playlist kicks things off with this song. Get ready to get moving when you click plan because you were born this way!

Fly Farm Blues – Jack White

When new school goes old school. When this song first comes on you might think it’s an oldie, but just wait. The electricity pours out and will energize you on your run!

Fancy – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Keep the energy going with this back-and-forth ballad. The drums and guitar take turns while you keep pushing forward, one step at a time.

Highway to Hell – ACDC

This classic is on plenty of running playlists, so of course it’s here! Sing along with the chorus, just make sure your run takes you back to where you started and not to the highway…

Golden Rule – Charles Bradley

Bradley lost his battle with cancer in 2017, but his songs and message live on. He pours his soul into his music and Golden Rule is no different. Perfect for gaining perspective on your next run.

Runaway – Bon Jovi

Your instincts tell you do dance when you hear this song. If that’s how you warm up before a run who are we to stop you? Get those feet moving!

Everything You’re Breathing For – The Parlor Mob

There’s just something about good ol’ rock and roll that gets folks moving. This crew taps into that sensation on this jam and many of their others. Try not to play air guitar or air drums, we dare you…

Wildcat – Ratatat

No lyrics? No problem. If you’re really wanting to focus during a speed workout this song will get you there. Plus, it sounds like a wildcat is chasing you. Pro tip – don’t listen to this while trail running!

Lost In Yesterday – Tame Impala

This is off Tame Impala’s latest album and it’s futuristic sound will make you feel like you’re flying on your next run.

Madness – Muse

Start slow. Let this be your warm up. You’re getting loose. Starting to feel good. Things start picking up around the 2-minute mark. Get ready to pick it up when the electric guitar kicks in at 2:45!

Utilize this running playlist update before you take off for your next run. These 10 songs can pump you up, allow you to catch your breath, or help you focus on the warm-up/cool-down. However you incorporate music, just make sure you can still hear your surroundings. It’s important to know what’s going on around you! Is there something you like that we didn’t list? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.